Coaching His Babygirl by Rory Reynolds
Chapter One
Melinda
I take a steadyingbreath and wipe my palms on my skirt, trying to settle my nerves before opening the door to the restaurant where Darlene’s birthday party is being held. One look at how nice the restaurant is inside, and I feel out of place in my casual long skirt and pink button-up shirt.
After a quick look, I see Cooper standing just off to one side of the hostess station talking to a gorgeous redhead. I slowly, nervously, make my way to where he’s standing. He turns toward me and smiles, making his dark eyes shine. I feel my cheeks heat with a blush at his attention.
“Mel,” he growls in that low tenor of his.
“Hi Coop,” I say to the tips of my shoes. Ugh. I hate how shy I get around him… well, not just him, but it’s especially bad around Cooper Crane. He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen in my life. He’s tall, built, and has a strong jaw that could cut stone that even his beard can’t hide. He’s also fifteen years my senior and doesn’t know I exist beyond being coworkers at Thurston Academy.
“Mel, this is Tessa, Jasper, and Ransom.”
I raise my fingers and give them a little wiggle of hello. My nerves are on overdrive at being introduced to strangers. Tessa gives me a bright smile and moves to my side.
“You must be the brilliant band teacher that Darlene can’t stop talking about. She recommended a couple of books you’ve gotten her to read…” Tessa waggles her eyebrows. “Definite page-turners.”
I feel the heat of my cheeks as they turn bright red from embarrassment. I know exactly what books she’s talking about. Naughty romance… my dirty little secret. I might be a buttoned-up virgin, but I love my romance books. It all started with my grandmother’s bodice rippers when I was way too young to be reading them. Now my tastes run a little darker… kinkier.
Tessa must sense my discomfort because she quickly changes the subject to Darlene’s birthday and how excited she is. I only half pay attention because one of the other patrons grabs my attention. A woman dressed in head-to-toe leather walks up to Coop and kisses both his cheeks in greeting. Jealousy flashes through me even though I have no claim to him. He must feel my eyes on him because he turns towards me. I quickly avert my gaze and it’s then I notice the attire of some of the other patrons.
Leather, corsets, schoolgirl uniforms on women much too old to be schoolgirls, and more. My eyes are bouncing from person to person so I don’t notice how close Coop has gotten until he lifts me out of the way of a man who stumbles directly into the path of where I was just standing.
Coop growls low in his throat and tells the man to watch where he’s going. The man holds his hands up and apologizes. The possessive way his hand rests at my lower back and the low growl of his warning to the stranger has butterflies taking flight in my stomach. My nerves are dancing on a tightwire at his closeness. I’ve had a huge crush on Coop since the day I started working at Thurston Academy three years ago.
What red-blooded woman wouldn’t have a crush? He’s what one would call a silver fox. He’s built like the ex-football player he is, with broad shoulders and thick muscles all over. He practically towers over me at six foot three. The first day I saw him out on the football field working out with the team… shirtless… I nearly swallowed my tongue. I did trip over my own feet and barely caught myself from faceplanting.
The sweat glistening on his chest, the way the sun shone down on his salt and pepper hair… the gruff way he counted down whatever exercise he had his team running. All of it is burned into my memory. Coop's hand lightly moves over my lower back, and I shiver. Did I say butterflies? More like a gaggle of geese.
I’m slowly burning up inside and no one seems to notice. Surely someone can see the steam coming off of me. But no, I’m standing here simmering and no one is the wiser. Just as I’m about to spontaneously combust from Coop’s touch, the doors open admitting Darlene and Colt.
Darlene’s eyes light up when she sees us standing here. She wraps first Tessa, then me up in a big hug. “Thank you so much for coming!”
I smile, happy that my friend is happy that I came. I might be in the deep end as far as my comfort zone goes, but knowing that Darlene’s birthday is just a little more special because I bravely stepped out of the comfort zone that I stay firmly planted in makes me feel good.
“Our table is ready,” Tessa says happily. “We were just waiting for you to get here.” Tessa gives a knowing wink and giggles.
A gorgeous woman wearing a black mini skirt and mesh shirt over a silver bra leads us to an empty table in the middle of the room. My mind can’t even think about how odd her attire is with Cooper’s hand on my lower back, guiding me through the restaurant. When he pulls out my chair, I swoon. I’ve never had someone do that for me; it’s right out of one of my romance novels.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath and doing my best to center myself before I float away on my fantasies of Coop doing these things because he’s even half as attracted to me as I am to him.
Ridiculous.
He’d never choose a woman as shy as I am. He belongs with someone like Tessa, bold and beautiful. Proud of her curves and willing to show them off instead of hiding behind her loose skirts and tops. I’m the exact opposite of the kind of woman a man like Coop should be with.
Dinner seems to go by quickly. I think the food is good, but I honestly can’t remember tasting a single bite, not with the heat of Coop sitting right beside me. Not when his rumbly voice dances over my skin as he chats with his friends.
Once everyone is done eating and the dinner party is winding down, I get up to excuse myself. Darlene stands and gives me a tight hug, thanking me for coming.
“Thanks for having me,” I say shyly.
Coop stands from the table. “I’ll walk you out.” He states it as fact, leaving zero room for argument. He gives Darlene a friendly hug, wishing her happy birthday, then his hand is on my lower back again. Goosebumps cover my skin, and my nipples harden inside my bra. I feel like a total pervert at being turned on from such a simple, platonic touch. My body has gone completely rogue.
We get outside in the cool night air and I take a deep, steadying breath. I do my best to draw my attention away from his hand on my back.
“You don’t have to walk me to my car,” I say, finally finding my voice.
Coop gives me a look of annoyance but says nothing.
“Alrighty then,” I say more to myself than anything.
We get to my car and he takes my keys from my hand and unlocks the door and opens it for me. Another gentlemanly thing that I’ve never had happen to me before. Swoon. So much swoon.
“Thanks,” I whisper.
“You’re welcome.” His gruff tone sends another shiver down my spine. Lord, this man is too sexy for his own good.
I climb into the car and reach to close the door, but Coop holds fast to the door. “Buckle up,” he growls.
I give him a sideways look but do as he instructs. The moment the belt clicks in place, he releases his hold on the door. Before I can reach for it, he closes me into the car. I can’t help but smile at the small ways he just took care of me. It reminds me of some of my favorite naughty books. The only thing that would’ve made it better is a ‘good girl’ or two thrown in for my good behavior.
Goodness, I’m a mess. Like Cooper would ever in a million years say something like that. I wouldn’t even know what to do with myself. I’m a virgin for crying out loud. What man in their right mind would want to take on a virgin who has dreams of being called a good girl and taken over her daddy’s knee?
I start my car and pull out of my parking spot. I drive away, watching Coop get smaller and smaller in my rearview. Such a strange night. That has to be why my mind is playing tricks on me. Seeing things that aren’t there. He was just being kind, not showing any kind of desire for me, and yet I was ready to melt at his feet like a puddle of hussy.
I’m two blocks away when I hear a low pop, and the wheel jerks in my hand. I quickly pull over to the side of the road and put a hand over my heart which is beating out of my chest. After a deep, steadying breath, I get out of the car and walk to the passenger side, immediately seeing the flat tire.
“Damn it,” I grumble.
I get back in my car and start searching through my purse for my phone but come up empty.
“Double damn.”
I rarely use my cell phone. It’s for emergencies. I don’t have many friends, and I’m not into social media so there’s not much need to be tied to the device like other people my age. Of course, now that I have an emergency and my phone is nowhere to be found, I almost wish I was tied to my phone like other people are.
I rest my head on the steering wheel and bang it lightly. The only thing I can do is walk back to the restaurant and ask to use their phone. There aren’t any other businesses in this area. This is mostly an industrial part of town, so even if the businesses were open, they’re not the kind of place you just wander into.
The street is dark, and the abandoned feel of the area has chills running up and down my spine. I grab my purse, lock up the car and head back the way I came on foot. I’m near the restaurant when I see a building with a small sign that says, “The Playground.” The lights are on, and it’s bright inside. Maybe it’s some kind of indoor play yard for kids; why else would a business be called The Playground?
I feel safe going inside and asking to use their phone. Plus, it cuts down on a whole lot of walking outside in the dark. Win-win.
I open the door and am greeted by a smiling receptionist. I instantly recognize her from the restaurant as one of the patrons… it’s then I notice the same corset and booty shorts she was wearing to dinner. Definitely not the kind of outfit you’d wear working for a children’s play yard.
“Hello. Are you here to meet someone?” she asks with a smile. Her eyes widen in what looks like recognition. “Oh, you’re here for Coach Cooper, aren’t you?”
I must look confused because she turns her head to one side. “You were at dinner with Coach, right?”
I nod slowly. Wondering to myself why she’s calling Coop Coach? And why is that my concern at the moment and not the fact that she’s dressed so provocatively at a play place for children?
“I just need to see your ID, then you can enter the club.”
Club? I should just ask to use the phone and go, but I’m curious as to what is happening behind that darkened door and what Coop has to do with it. That’s the only reason I can explain why I hand my driver’s license over without any questions. The woman pulls out a piece of paper and pushes it in my direction. “Just a standard nondisclosure.”
That should concern me, but instead, it further piques my curiosity. I sign the paper quickly, and the woman smiles wider. “You’re free to go inside. Have fun playing,” she says perkily.
Is this an adult playground, then? So many questions but only one way to answer them. I open the door and stumble inside. I curse my clumsiness, ready to be embarrassed and have a roomful of people staring at me, but no one is paying attention.
It takes me a moment to get my bearings as I take in the large room. The centerpiece of the room is a large playground like what you would see in any park in the city. Only the equipment is adult-sized. A smile spreads across my face at the thought of a place where adults can come and play. I wander further into the room and see a lovely sitting area to my left with several men and women chatting and laughing.
I do a double-take when I see a woman in nothing but her bra and panties chatting with a man wearing overalls looking much more like a boy than a man. I try hard not to judge. To each their own and all that, but this place is… odd.
I walk past the sitting area and see a bar that looks like one from any club. Well, at least the ones I’ve seen on TV and read about in books.
“Hey, girl!” Tessa says, scaring the crap out of me. She’s out of the pretty dress she wore to dinner and is wearing a naughty schoolgirl outfit. I give her a confused look but don’t get a chance to say anything before she’s threading her arm through mine and guiding me toward the bar. “What are you doing here?” she asks her voice tight.
“F-flat tire. Forgot my phone.”
“That sucks. I think Coop is at the bar with Ransom…” she says with a roll of her eyes.
“Oh…”
“You are here for him, right?”
My attention is drawn away from Tessa when a topless woman walks by being led on a leash. It is not the kind of leash that would be hooked to a collar, but one of those worn around the chest with a stuffie on it… like what you use for a young child. The man leading her is wearing a tailored suit and looks stern. I watch with curious eyes, rubbernecking to keep watching as Tessa leads me away, pulling me steadily to the bar.
“What is this place?” I ask as more of the room comes into view. To the right of the bar is a huge area with tons of toys and grown men and women playing animatedly. My stomach clenches, and I feel a pang of jealousy at their freedom. How long has it been since I’ve felt that level of carefreeness?
“Um…” Tessa starts giving me a worried look, “maybe Coop should explain.”
I look back at Tessa as she drags me back to the bar. She doesn’t look around; instead, she leads me directly to one end, where I immediately see Cooper and Ransom. Coop raises a glass with amber liquid to his lips and drinks deeply.
Ransom sees me first, and his eyes widen. He taps Coop’s arm and nods toward me. Coop turns, and his jaw drops looking gobsmacked when he sees me walking towards him. I would giggle if I didn’t feel the enormity of this situation. I feel like something significant is about to happen. I just have no idea what it could be.